It's Monday! And we've got a brand new fairy tale for you this week. And this one's a doozy.

Long time readers may remember me saying that I wanted to do more with evil characters. And not a morally-grey anti-hero. Not a misunderstood, secretly-sympathetic antagonist. A bonafide whack-job villain. XD

My original challenge was to take a fandom darling and make her twistedly and uncomfortably evil. And the perfect story for this was Snow White. The Evil Queen is a pretty twisted character. My initial thought was to make her Lucy, because her vice is vanity and it fit with all the 'Mirror, Mirror, Fairest in the Land' thing. I changed my mind part-way through when I realized that Snow White is as much a story about vanity as it is about obsession. At that point, Juvia ended up being the better fit and Lucy-Love-Rival made a really good Snow White. This arrangement was really cool because it let me pit two fan-favorite characters against each other. (I still want to do an Evil Lucy, but it'll have to be some other time.)

Where this differs from the typical Disney-esque portrayal of Snow White is by giving more attention to Juvia and her slow descent into madness, as opposed to just hiding her in the corner and having Lucy talk to animals and bake pies or whatever. Expect lots of drama, suspense, a fair amount of whump, and plenty of Nalu! ("And daaahkness!" says my beta as he makes fun of me because I'm not a very dark writer.)

Fair warning, this is darker than my norm. You'll have to let me know what you think. Hope you like it!

- K. Chandler

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom where it always rained… The sky was always dark, and it was always dreary.

"Yes, that sounds about right. That's Fantasma." Queen Juvia glanced out the window at the darkened sky.

Rain [came down in sheets], covering the cobblestones with a slick of water and matching Juvia's dreary mood. The courtyard below was empty. The servants and castle staff had gone inside to take shelter from the weather.

Juvia pulled her knee to her chest, curling up deeper into the settee.

Some said that it was the princess' temperament that brought about the inclement weather. Nobody wanted to be near her, for she was always gloomy. For that reason, the princess of that kingdom was always alone.

"But one day, the princess will meet a handsome prince. Somebody who will take her misery away. Then she won't be alone anymore," Juvia whispered fiercely, clutching the book to her chest, her fingers digging into the worn leather. "It could happen… someday."

But when? What if it never came? Juvia could only hope it would!

Queen Juvia sighed, letting the storybook slip from her fingers with a rustle of pages and a muted thud. She called for her most trusted servant.

"Bora!"

"Yes, my queen?" Bora appeared at the door, awaiting her instruction.

"Bring me my washbasin," she commanded.

"At once," he said, inclining his head before he left to do her bidding.

Never one to make her wait, Bora returned shortly, holding the silver basin in both hands. He knelt, offering it out to her.

The basin was of ordinary design, surprisingly plain for her royal use, but silver was known for its purifying properties.

"Is there anything else, my queen?"

"Nothing." Juvia set the silver basin on her desk. She turned away, preparing to conduct her ritual.

Bora didn't leave, hovering near the door.

"Yes?" Juvia asked.

"I… I was wondering if you needed…" Bora's shoulders gave an awkward lift, as if he were shrugging.

"There's nothing else, Bora. You may go."

Bora bowed again before leaving, closing the door behind him.

Juvia picked up the silver basin. She leaned out the window with it, letting the raindrops pitter their way into the basin and filling it up. The water was so clear that she could see her own face reflected on the bottom of the silver.

"Perfect," Juvia said.

Only the purest water could be used for scrying.

"Show me," Juvia said. "Show me the Princess of Magnolia."

It had become a habit, spying on Lucy of Magnolia, the carefree princess of a much happier kingdom. Once upon a time, she had been part of that story. She and Lucy may as well have been sisters. At least that was what Juvia wanted to believe, but it hadn't been true. Eventually, Lucy grew weary of the gloomy Juvia and sought other company.

In the basin, Juvia could see Lucy's image, almost like a reflection on the water. Lucy was playing in her courtyard, surrounded by her friends. It wasn't raining there.

Juvia looked out into her own courtyard. The rain had slowed to a mournful drizzle, light enough for Sol, the gardener, to tend to the herbs. He waved up at her as he passed, sloshing through the mud with his long legs.

Stupid Lucy in her sunny kingdom.

Lucy shifted her weight, squaring her toes up against an invisible line. With her grip loose, she aimed with her mallet and gave her ball a sharp whack. It rolled cleanly thought the wicket.

"Nice shot, Luce!" Natsu said, his broad, toothy grin making her heart flutter.

"Think you can beat it?" she asked, stepping aside to give Natsu access to his ball.

"Seriously?" Natsu asked. "Watch me."

Natsu, Prince of Draghi, wasn't known for his tact or delicacy. He raised his mallet high above his head with both hands. He brought it down in a wide arc, sending the green ball sailing across the lawn with a crack. It ricocheted off the wire wickets.

"Aw, man!" Natsu said. "I woulda thought it'd go farther than that…" he sighed.

Lucy stifled a laugh. "Too bad you don't get any points for power," Lucy said. "All right, Gray. You're up. Gray?"

Gray was deep in conversation with his attendant. Again. They spoke in hushed voices with serious looks on their faces.

Lucy sighed. "Does he never stop working?"

"Leave him go, Luce," Natsu said.

Gray was Prince Regent of Isvan. Unlike Natsu, who left the ruling of Draghi Kingdom to his father, the good King Igneel, Gray had ascended to the throne when his parents had been killed in a brutal attack three years ago.

"Oh, and add a third—no, a fourth? Either way. Add one more thing to the list," Gray was saying to his attendant. "Clear my schedule for two days after we return. I need time to review the monthly budget requests. I gave Lyon leave to approve all the regular palace expenses in my absence, but I want to review any larger requests that have come in. I'm expecting a proposal from Orquet province. They're supposed to get me details on the new school they want funding for."

The attendant, a no-nonsense redhead, tapped her quill impatiently. "You have a hair appointment and a marriage interview on the second day."

"Cancel them," Gray said.

Lucy gasped. Cancel? What was Gray thinking?

"Yes, of course. Would you like me to reschedule?" his attendant asked.

"I guess I need to get my hair cut eventually," Gray said. "Reschedule that. Wherever it fits."

"Anything else?" his attendant asked, writing quickly in a thin, blue notebook.

"Do we have time to work in a stop at Fort Brago on our way back? It's been a while since I've visited."

"The soldiers stationed there will like that, I'm sure," his attendant said.

"Hopefully they won't mind the surprise inspection," Gray said with a nod.

"They always seem to enjoy your visits," she assured him.

"Yes, but they're meant to pretend that," Gray said.

Lucy frowned, concerned. Gray made time to visit troops and review provincial spending, but apparently taking time out for himself wasn't a priority.

"Are you eavesdropping?" Natsu whispered, his breath tickling the shell of Lucy's ear.

Lucy jolted, her face heating up at Natsu's closeness. She pushed away the pesky butterflies that knotted her stomach, trying to retain composure.

"Natsu…" she complained, batting at him with her hand and trying to pretend he didn't affect her. Feelings like that were dangerous.

"Seriously, Luce," Natsu said. "Leave Gray alone. I'm sure the Ice Block just has a lot going on. I mean, when doesn't he?"

"That's an understatement. He canceled a marriage talk for… budgets!" Lucy spat the word like it was distasteful. "I mean, are you hearing all this?"

"Loud and clear," Natsu reminded her, tapping his own ear. He claimed that the Draghi were descended from dragons themselves. Lucy believed that was more folklore, but she couldn't deny that Natsu's people tended to be gifted with highly developed senses of hearing and smell.

"I don't get why you're not more concerned. The poor guy doesn't even have a life anymore." Lucy her arms over her chest, shaking her head. "I just wish I could help."

"Help what?" Natsu asked. "That's going to be us one day. All of us have kingdoms to run. Gray just got his first, that's all."

"I hope not! Natsu, he hasn't been the same since, you know…" Lucy dropped her voice to a whisper.

The death of his parents had left Gray a shadow of his old self. These days, he was always distracted, and his smiles didn't quite reach his eyes. He was always working, his forehead perpetual creased with a frown. She'd never admit it out loud, but Lucy suspected that there was more to Gray's busyness than met the eye.

Just like father, Lucy thought. King Jude had done the same thing after her mother died, disappearing into his office for days at a time.

It hurt to imagine the same thing happening to Gray.

"We're supposed to be his friends… I have to do something," she said.

"I guess that's true. Okay, I got this," Natsu said. He gave his ball a hard whack, aiming it at Gray instead of the next wicket.

"We need to make absolutely sure that we don't overlook—ow!" Gray glared up at them as Natsu's ball bounced off his shin. "Natsu!"

"Just makin' sure you're paying attention," Natsu said with an easy shrug.

"Are you working?" Lucy asked.

"Just having Erza jot a couple of things down so I don't forget when I get home," Gray said.

"You boys are supposed to be on vacation," Lucy said.

"Unfortunately, Isvan's not going to run itself. The kingdom doesn't take a vacation just because I do."

Lucy shook her head. "Don't you have people for that?" she asked. "You can join us for just a couple of minutes, couldn't you?"

"To help with some things, yeah. But I can't check out entirely. There's too much to do," Gray said.

"Come on, Gray," Lucy whined. "I didn't invite you all the way out to Magnolia for you to work," she added, her lips pursing in disapproval.

Gray gave her a blank look, as if the idea of not working had never crossed his mind.

Lucy clamped down on Gray's shoulders, the muscles stiff beneath her fingers, as usual. She pushed him toward the croquet course. "You need to relax. De-stress. Get some of this wonderful Magnolia sun. It'll be good for you."

"Fine. As the lady wishes," Gray sighed, his mouth quirking at the corners.

Lucy beamed. "You won't regret this. We'll have fun. I promise."

Gray dismissed his attendant and adjusted his grip on his mallet. "Now, where'd we leave off?"

"With me kicking your butt," Natsu said. "You're up next."

Gray lined up his shot with a frown of concentration.

"Watch out, Natsu," Lucy teased. "He's making his serious face."

"Big deal," Natsu said. "I could beat the Ice Block in my sleep!"

Gray gave his ball a deft tap, sending it cleanly through the nearest wicket.

"He showed you," Lucy teased Natsu.

"Whatever. He hits like a girl," Natsu said.

"Come over here, and say that to my face," Gray said, grinning and balling one hand into a fist. "Then maybe we'll see who hits like a girl."

"Oh, it's on." Natsu sprang at him.

"You guys!" Lucy groaned.

Both guys laughed, and for a moment, things were as they used to be.

"You know we're just messing around, right?" Natsu asked, clapping Gray on the back.

"Yep. What he said," Gray said, smacking Natsu back harder.

"Ow!" Natsu smacked back in retaliation. Then he yelped when Gray kicked him in the ankle.

Lucy shook her head, a fond smile cutting through the exasperation.

It was nice to see Gray smiling. Apparently, it was still possible with the right distraction. Lucy hated to admit, but maybe just being part of their little trio wasn't enough anymore.

Some female companionship might just do the trick! After all, her father had been happiest around her mother.

If only there were a nice girl in the picture. Someone who understood loneliness and loss. Someone who was more in touch with their feelings and could help Gray work through his so he would stop bottling things up. Someone who would love him and support him through all of life's challenges, and eventually stand by his side as his queen.

But this was a guy who couldn't even spare the time to get his own hair cut. If she left it up to him, they'd all be dead and buried before anything happened…

Evidently, it was up to Lucy to help find him a suitable match. Where would she find someone who could put up with the surly Prince of Isvan?

"Hey, Luce! Whatcha spacing out for?" Natsu called, jogging up to her. He set a hand on her arm, looking her up and down with a frown. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Lucy forced a smile, ignoring the warmth of his touch and how it made her stomach do happy backflips.

Careful, she thought to herself. She let out a steadying breath. She couldn't let her heart run away with her.

Juvia glowered at the bowl, slapping at the surface of the water. It splattered, spilling across the top of the table and splashing the front of her dress.

Stupid Lucy in her sunny kingdom. Stupid Lucy, pretty and popular and perfect.

"I wish I could be more like that," Juvia sighed. "I would kill have what she has."

It wasn't fair.

Juvia paced her room, cursing her misfortune for being born as the Queen of Fantasma.

And so we've met our gang. Let me know what you think!

Next time, in Toxic, Lucy knows how to pick 'em: "A lot of research went into this. And after careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that Gray's perfect match is…" Lucy paused for effect. "Queen Juvia of Fantasma."

Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.